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What does Heritage Month mean to you? Is it just an ill-timed public holiday to mess with the rhythm of your week, or an excuse for a midweek boozy braai?
As a young white Afrikaans woman, my heritage has always been a tricky thing.
There are many things I’d like to cherry-pick from history and claim it as my heritage. For example, I like the fact that I come from Germanic stock. I love Western fairy tales and ancient myths. I enjoy the Lord of the Rings and that some people call me Galadrilili because my skin is so fair. I like my language and things like the uncompromising strength and grit of many of my forebears.
Closer to home I love Liewe Heksie and Raka and Gert Vlok Nel. I like watching rugby and eating biltong and making braaibroodjies.
But I cannot ignore the elephant in the room.
A large part of my heritage involves institutionalised racism. It lies, like an enormous, ugly stain on an intricate tapestry. And my people and our history is marred... damaged by it. So I will not forget the past. Not the injustices endured, not the sacrifices made and not the crimes committed.
And neither should you.
Heritage Day should celebrate our various and diverse cultures, but mostly it should celebrate what got us united: A struggle, a long road to freedom and the grace of forgiveness.
So, yes, let’s do look into the things that make our various peoples great, but let’s not forget to look at what makes us great as a nation.
Tell us what you think makes SA special, whether it be the food, the music, the sport or our beautiful scenery or share your pictures of your favourite spots in the country, and you can win a lovely Women24 t-shirt and a cool surprise gift.
